Sunday, October 29, 2017

Fats Domino, Early Rock ’n’ Roller With a Boogie-Woogie Piano by Jon Pareles and Bill Grimes

Fats Domino, the New Orleans rhythm-and-blues singer whose two-fisted boogie-woogie piano and nonchalant vocals, heard on dozens of hits, made him one of the biggest stars of the early rock ’n’ roll era, died on Tuesday at his home in Harvey, La., across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. He was 89.

His death was confirmed by the Jefferson Parish coroner’s office.

Mr. Domino had more than three dozen Top 40 pop hits through the 1950s and early ’60s, among them “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t It a Shame” (also known as “Ain’t That a Shame,” which is the actual lyric), “I’m Walkin’,”“Blue Monday” and “Walkin’ to New Orleans.” Throughout he displayed both the buoyant spirit of New Orleans, his hometown, and a droll resilience that reached listeners worldwide.

9:07 p.m. PT UPDATE: Tom Petty's manager announced that the singer has died.

Tom Petty, the gaunt, unassuming rocker with the sly grin, sleepy demeanor and biting voice whose decades of American rock 'n' roll hitmaking put him among the best-selling music artists of all time, has died, his manager announced Monday night. He was 66.